JUBA — About 300 rebel fighters of the National Salvation Front (NAS) have abandoned the armed struggle and returned to the government in Juba, in a step toward peace and stability in South Sudan.
The group, led by Brigadier General Hilary Edson T. Yakani, made the announcement on Monday at the headquarters of the National Security Service (NSS) Internal Security Bureau in Juba.
Speaking to the media in Juba on Monday, Brigadier General Hilary Edson T. Yakani, commander of the NAS forces, said the decision followed President Salva Kiir Mayardit’s presidential amnesty and his call for armed groups to embrace peace.
“I, Brigadier General Hilary Edson T. Yakani, and 300 members of the National Salvation Front, declare our return to government to pursue peace through dialogue,” Yakani said.
He said seizing political power by force was unacceptable, stressing that South Sudanese had suffered enough from years of conflict.
“Taking power through the use of force is unconstitutional and unacceptable by all standards. We, therefore, refuse to be used by any person seeking power through the use of force,” he said.
Yakani said millions of people had been affected by conflict, with many killed, displaced, or forced to live in refugee camps.
“The people of South Sudan have suffered for too long, millions of lives lost and property destroyed,” he said.
“Many people are living in the refugee camps and others are displaced within the country. We say enough is enough. Let us give peace a chance and let our people return to their country and participate in the development of the country.”
Yakani urged other armed groups still operating in Central Equatoria and across South Sudan to accept the presidential amnesty and return home.
“Our message to the remnants of holdout armed groups around Central Equatoria and South Sudan at large is please accept the presidential amnesty and come back home to participate in the development of your country,” he said.
He also condemned attacks against civilians, including looting, sexual violence, targeted killings, and road robberies.
“Those carrying out criminal activities of looting civilians, raping young girls and women, targeted extrajudicial killings, and robbing and banning civilian cars along the roads, we call upon you to stop these acts with immediate effect because what you are doing is wrong,” Yakani said.
He called on people accused of secretly supporting armed groups to stop providing intelligence and spreading messages that could fuel conflict.
“The section of people who use their social media to propagate division among the people of South Sudan, creating lies with the intent of causing confusion among South Sudanese, beating the drums of war as a means of lobbying for recognition and survival through solicitation of donations from supporters, must stop because the truth is stronger, and it always wins over lies,” he said.
Yakani also urged political actors living outside the country to return home and pursue political support through peaceful and democratic means.
“We encourage every aggrieved political actor who is still outside the country to return and sell his or her case to the citizens,” he said.
He directly appealed to NAS leader General Thomas Cirilo to choose dialogue over conflict.
“We call upon General Thomas Cirilo to listen to the cries of his people and consider dialogue as a means of restoring peace and security to our country,” Yakani said.
Meanwhile, NSS spokesperson John David Kumuri confirmed that the security service had received the defectors.
“The National Security Service on this 24th of August, 2026, announces to the public the reception of National Salvation Front forces after defection from the NAS under the command of General Thomas Cirilo Soka,” Kumuri said.
He said the group is 300-strong, with 110 members already in the country.
“The forces are 300 in number, with 110. So we have 110 that have already reported to the ground,” he said.
Kumuri said the group includes 10 senior NAS commanders and that the government had assured them of their safety.
“The National Security Service has received the group, assuring them safety and security. Safety and security are our top priorities as the National Security Service,” he said.
He added that the defectors would undergo training before being integrated into the organized forces.
“What next is they will be taken for the training. After training, they will be integrated into all the organized forces,” Kumuri said.
Kumuri called on other opposition groups to follow the same path and return to the country.
“Finally, we call upon all the opposition groups in and out of the country to follow the similar decision and join the South Sudan government and collectively improve the security and economic prosperity of the people of South Sudan and equally meaningfully participate in the upcoming general elections,” he said.
